Oven



May 22, 1956 N. o. HoLMsTEN OVEN 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 9, 1952 /lJ f H/// /VW f//H ///////////////4//// ,/f/ /f/f///f/f/f/ /7/ /f/ n Q iv 4 mf r ww mi nl n uw /1 M u w Gttorneg 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 22, 1956N. o. HoLMsTEN OVEN Filed Jan. 9, 1952 I l [4l I l 1|' IIII' Il n? i Ill II I i I 15 I l I l l: I [lll Il 15,' l I I l l l I l i I Il, IT'

ADJ/'' FPi//l Gttorneg r exible it may be secured by hinging together aplurality of nar- This invention relates generally to domestic cookingranges using either gas or electricity as the heating medium. Morespecifically the invention relates to the construction of the oven inranges of this type.

i, nited States Patent O During roasting the walls of an oven aregenerally spattered with grease and smoke, andA during the baking ofpies and various casserole dishes there is frequently a spillage oroverowing from `theutensils used onto the bottom and/or walls of theoven. In order to preserve the appearance and efciency of an oven itshould be thoroughly cleaned after each use as otherwise any foreignmatter on the walls thereof will become so baked and hardened thereonthat it will be practically impossible to remove it. In present daydomestic ranges where the oven is always below the top burners orheating elements the cleaning of an oven is a very laborious and tedioustask. d

Having this in mind I have designed an oven for a domestic cooking rangewhich is so constructed and arranged that the top, bottom, side and rearwalls thereof can be quickly and easily removed and cleaned in thekitchen sink, or suitable receptacle, and after cleaning `can be quicklyand easily replaced in the range. In accordance with my invention Iprovide in a range top, bottom, side,'rear andfront walls which definean oven compartment. The front wall has an opening therein `which isclosed by a suitable door hinged to the range.

Opposed upper and lower U-shaped supporting members are rigidly securedwithin the loven compartment. The

upper supporting member extends rearwardly from the front wall along onesidewall thence across the rear wall to the opposite side wall and thenforwardly to the front wall adjacent the top of the opening in the frontwall.

The? lower supporting member is similarly disposed adjacent the bottomof the opening in the front wall. These supporting members haveVvertically aligned opposed grooves forming tracks in which are slidablymounted a .pair of opposed Wall sections. The inner ends of these wallsections abut each other substantially midway between the compartmentside walls. Each of Vthese sections constitutes .a side wall and aportion of the rear wall of an oven chamber within the oven`compartment.

` These sections are made of sheet metal and at least the portionthereof which constitutes part of the back wall is This exibility may beinherent in the metal or row strips `of sheet metal.y The bottom wall ofthe oven .chamberrests loosely upon the lower U-shaped supporting memberand extends from side wall to side wall and from the rear wall of theoven chamber to the front wall yof the loven compartment at the loweredge of the opening in the frontv wall of the oven compartment. The topp 2,746,448 Patented May 22, 1956 .ICC

the inner ends of the slidably mounted sections is provided to lock thesections in place against sliding movement until after the oven chambertop wall has been withdrawn. Releasable latching means is also providedto lock the oven chamber top wall in place.

In order to clean the oven chamber walls after use, the bottom wall islifted out, and then the top wall is unlatched and slidably withdrawn.The removing of the top wall unlocks the two sections constituting theside and rear walls vof the oven chamber after which they are slidablyremoved. After the removed wall sections have been cleaned, the sidewall sections are first slid back into the grooved supporting membersand then the top and bottom wall `sections are replaced.

An added convenience with my improved oven construction is that thecleaning, scrubbing and washing can be eliminated completely by removingthe walls, soaking same to dissolve the dirt, burnt crust, etc., thenrinsing andreplacing and heating slightly if necessary to dry same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing forming a partthereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a domestic cooking range embodying myimproved oven construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 3 with oneside of the view showing the oven door in open position and one sidewall partially removed, and the other side of the view showing the ovendoor closed and the other side wall in normal position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal vsection through the rear portion ofthe range showing the side and rear walls of the oven completely removedand the bottom wall partially removed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical detail section through one side wallandthe lower supporting member;

Fig. 7 is a View similar` to Fig. 6 through the upper supporting member;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal detail section showing the means forlocking the side and rear Walls against sliding movement.

Fig. 9is an enlarged vertical detail section showing the latching meansfor locking the top wall in place;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view in front elevation of the latchingmeans shown in Fig. 9. v n

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral 1designates generally a domestic cooking range having my improved ovenstructure incorporated therein.

The range 1 comprises a base 2 having a pressed metal frame 3 securedthereto and extending upwardly from the forward edge thereof. Secured toand extending rearwardly from the frame 3 are side walls 4 and 5, whichare connected together at the rear ends thereof by a rear wall 6. A topwall 7 is secured to and extends between the side walls 4 and 5 and thefrontand rear walls 3 and 6. Above the top wall 7 is provided a topburner compartment in which are mounted suitable top burners (not shown)below grates 8. The top burners are controlled by suitable valves (notshown) which are actuated by handles 9. The walls 3 to 7 constitute theouter shell of the range. A

Secured to the frame 3 and extending rearwardly therefrom in spacedrelation to the walls 4 and 5 are side walls 10 and 11 which areconnected together at the rear ends thereof by a rear wall 12 whichextends parallel topand in spaced relation t'o the outer'wall 6. Thewalls 10, 11

range is ,filled With'suitablc insulating material 14. TheV frame 3which constitutes the front Vwall of the range has an enlargedrectangular opening 3a which extends from the inner face .of thecompartment side wall tothe inner ifaceof the opposite compartmentsidewall 11, and A-fromthe inner face of the compartment top wall 13downvvardly.l lAn. upper U-shaped supporting `member generally indicatedby the numeral '15 is secured'tothe inner faces 'of the compartmentwalls 10, 11, 12 and 13, as 'clearly shown in Figs.'3 and 7. Thesupporting member y1;5'comprises' the spaced parallel arms 16 and17,1the inner Yends of which are connected together by a basel 18. f Themember 15 is made up from two angle irons 19 and 20 which are weldedVtogether with the vertical legs lthereof vspacedfrom each other so asto provide a groove 21. The arm l1'6 is rigidly secured to the side walland to the top Wall 13, and the'arm 17 is rigidly secured to the sidewall `1-1 and tothe top -wall 13. The base is secured to the rear wall12 and to the top wall 13. The forward or Vfree ends of the arms 16 and17 are disposed behind the open- Ving mr within `the contines thereof sothat lthe groove 21 will be accessible through the opening 3a as will beexplained hereinafter. ber generally indicated by the numeral 25 havingthe arms -26-and 27 and the connecting base 19 is rigidly secured belowthe supporting member 15 within the compartment .chamber A. The lowersupporting member 25 vis made up of the two angle irons 30 and 31 whichhave the vertical legs thereof spaced from eachother to provide a groove32 '-in opposed relation `to the groove 21 inthe .upper supportingmember '15. The arm 26 is rigidly lsecured to the inner face of the wall10; the arm 27 is rigidly secured to the inner face or" thewall 11, andthe base29 is 'secured to the rear wall 12. The forward free ends of'thearms 26 and 27 are also disposed behind the opening 3a so that thegroove 32 therein is accessible through this opening. .l

Two opposed similarY sections 35 and 36 are slidably mounted inthe-grooves 21 and 32."V The inner ends of the :sections 35 and 36`abuteach other as indicated at 37 midway between the walls 10 and 11. Thesection 35 constitutes one side wall and half of the back wall of anovenchamberfO -within the oven compartment; and the section 36constitutes the other side wall andthe balance of this oven chamber. Thesections 35 and 36 are-formed from sheet metal, and at least theportions thereof which constitute the rear wall 'ofthe oven chamber areflexible. This flexibility may be inherentin the sheet metal itself,or-these lsections may be made up of a plurality of narrow strips 39,whichare connected together by suitable hinges 40. `Thatportion ofthesections 35 and 36 which constitute the side walls of the oven chamberhave drawn bosses` 41 for slidably ksupporting oven rack 43 in selectedpositions. .Elongated supporting ledges 45 are also drawn from vthesidewall portions of the sections 35 and 36; A flatisheetmetal plate 46which constitutes the top wall ofthe oven chamber-isslidably mountedupon the ledges 45, and vextendsbetween the oven chamber side walls andbetween therear wall thereof and the front wall or frame 3.of Atherange. Top wall 46 can also be formed tovconform toangle iron vr20. Theouter vertical edges ofthe sections-.35 and.36 are flanged outwardly asshown at 47 .to cover the vertical space 48 between the oven,V chamberwalls and the 4compartment chamber walls, and the outer end of the topwall 46 is flanged upwardly at 46er to cover the horizontal space 48abetween the top wall-46 of the oven .chamber-and the 'top wall 13 of thecompartment chamber. .A dished` plate y49 which seatsl loosely upon thehorizontal diange of the angle iron 31 of .the lower U- shapedsupporting member constitutesrthe bottom ofthe oven chamber O. The ovenchamber O is closed by a suitable door-50 vwhichishinged-to the frame 3below the opening 3a therein. The oven door 50 comprises inner and outerspaced walls 51 and 52 which are suitably secured together around theperiphery thereof. The space between the walls 51 and y52 -isiilled withinsulating material 53. A handle 54 is provided for opening and closingthe door. Although it istnot shown herein, it will be understood thatsuitable counterbalancing means may be An opposed lower supportingmemprovided for the door '50. A burner 55 is mounted in any suitablemanner inthe Ioven compartment A below the bottom wall 49.VV The burner55 is controlled by a suitable valve '(not shown) which is lactuated bythe handle 56. Hot gases pass upwardly into the oven chamberO throughslots 57 in the oven chamber bottom wall In order to lock the sections'35 and l36 in position against any movements in the grooves 21 and 32,I provide suitable latching means generally indicated by the numeral 6).Thelatching means 60 comprises a plate 61 which i-s secured to theunderside of the top wall 46 at the rear edge thereof, as shown inFigs.y 3 and 8.` The plate 61 has a pair of spaced rearwardly extendingtongues 62 and 63 which `are adaptedto engage slots 64- and 65 in thesections v35 and 36, respectively. `In order to lock the top wall 46 inposition, I provide projection-s 68 which are vmounted upwardly from thesupporting ledges 45 and engage notches 69 in the sides of the topwall46. (Figs. 9 and 10.-)

When itis desired to clean the oven after use, the forward end'of thetopwall46 is raised slightly upwardly until the notches 69 are raised aboveand disengaged from the tongues 68, and then the Wall 46 is slidforwardly out Vof the range. "Phe removal ofthe top wall 46 withdrawsthe tongues 62 and 63 from the slots 64 and y65 in the oven chamberwalls, thus releasing the sections 35 and v36 so that they 'may be slidoutwardly inthe grooves 21 and 32 and removed from the range. The bottomwall 49 ycan then be lifted yfrom the supporting member 25. Afterremoval, the Ywall sections of the oven chamber can be easily andthoroughly cleaned in the kitchen sink.

kAfter cleaning, thefsections '35 `and 36 are slid back into position in.the grooves '21 and 32. The `top wall 46 is then slid-back into'position upon the supports 45. When the top'wall is `fully inserted, thetongues 62 and 63 of the latch 60 will again-engage the slots 64 and 65and lock the sections 35 and .36 against removal; and the notches 69will engage -.the :tongues 68 thus latching the top wall 46 againstremoval. The bottom wall 49 Vcan then be inserted into 'the oven chamberupon .the lower supporting :member 25. The oven isnow completelyreassembled and readyy forfthe'next use. 'Y

It is obvious that the flexible-portion forming the rear wall may bedisposed entirely onone side wall or on the bottom Yor top wall ifdesired or partly on any two opposite walls. Also the flexible wallsections may be joined by links-which providethe necessary flexibility.The frame or the walls'may have suitable openings or indentations lforthe insertion of a tool or fingers to facilitate removal.

An electric light (not shown) may be disposed outside of theremovable'walls to show in'` the oven through a window of heat resistantglass. A thermostatic heating element or other control devicesmaybedisposed inthe space be- '.tween the movable and fixed-walls.

` in said tracks, at least a portion of one of said wall sections beingflexible, said sections constituting opposite walls and the back wall ofan oven chamber within said compartment, and a pair of other wallsections removably supported between said rst walls to form an openfront oven chamber.

2. The combination set forth in claim l in which said flexible wallcomprises a plurality of rigid sections joined together by links.

3. A cooking range having an oven compartment therein, opposedsupporting members rigidly securedwithin said compartment, a pair ofelongated metal sections slidably supported by said supporting members,at least a portion of each of said sections `being flexible, one of saidsections constituting one longitudinal wall and a portion of the backwall of an oven chamber within said compartment and the other of saidsections constituting the opposite longitudinal wall and the balance ofthe back wall of said oven chamber, a second pair of longitudinal wallsremovably supported between said iirst longitudinal walls to form anopen front oven chamber, and interengaging means between said last pairof walls and said back wall to lock said sections in position againstsliding movement.

4. A cooking range having an oven compartment therein, opposed upper andlower supporting members rigidly secured within said compartment, a pairof similar elongated metal sections slidably supported by saidsupporting members,` at least a portion of yeach of said sections beingflexible, one of said sections constituting one side wall and a portionof the back wall of an oven chamber within said compartment and theother of said sections l constituting the other side wall and thebalance of the back constituting the other side wall and the balance ofthe back wall of said oven chamber, an oven bottom removably supportedbetween said side walls adjacent the lower edges thereof, an oven` topwall removably supported between said side walls adjacent the upperedges thereof, interengaging means between said sections and said topwallby which said sections are locked in posiltion, against slidingmovement, and latching means by which said top wall is locked inposition.

8. A cooking range having an oven compartment therein, opposed upper andlower `supporting members rigidly secured within said compartment, apair of similar elongated metal sections slidably supported by saidsupporting members, at least a portion of each of said sections being pflexible, one of said sections constituting one side wall and a portionof the back wall of an oyen chamber within j in, opposed upper and lowersupporting members rigidly i secured within said compartment, a pair ofsimilar elongated metal sections slidably supported by said supportwallof said oven chamber, an oven bottom removably supported between saidside walls adjacent `the lower edges thereof, and an oven top wallremovably supported between said side walls adjacent the upper edgesthereof.

5. A cooking range having an oven compartment therein, opposed upper`and lower supporting members rigidly secured within said compartment, apair of similar elongated rnetal sections -slidably supported by saidsupporting members, at least a portion of each of said sections beingllexible, one of said sections constituting one side wall and a portionof the back wall of an oven chamber within said K compartment and theother of said sections constituting the other side wall and the balanceof the back wall of said oven chamber, an oven bottom removablysupported between said side walls adjacent the lower edges thereof,

an oven top wall removably supported between said side i walls adjacentthe upper edges thereof, and interengaging means between said sectionsand said top wall by which said sections are locked in position againstmovement.

6. A cooking range having an oven compartment therein, opposed upper andlower-supporting members rigidly secured within said compartment, a pairof similar elongated metal sections slidably supported by saidsupporting members, at least a portion of each of said sections v beingflexible, one of said sections constituting one side wall and a portionof the back wall of an oven chamber within said compartment and theother of said sections constituting the other side wall` andl thebalance of the back wall of said oven chamber, an oven bottom removablysupported between said side walls adjacent the lower edges thereof, anovenjtop wall removably supported between said side walls adjacent theupper edges thereof, and interengaging means between said` sections andsaid top wall by which said sections are locked in position againstsliding movement. i

7. A cooking range having an oven compartment therein, opposed upper andlower supporting members rigidly secured within said compartment, a pairof similar elongated metal sections slidably supportedby said supportingmembers, at least a portion of each of said sections being flexible, oneof said :sections constituting one side wall and a portion of thebackwall of an oven chamber within said compartment and the other ofsaid sections ing members, atleast a portion of each of said sectionsbeing flexible, one of said sections constituting one side wall and apoltion of the back wall of an oven chamber withiny said compartment andthe other of said sections constituting the other side wall and thebalance of the back wall of said oven chamber, an oven bottom removablysupported between said side walls adjacent the lower edges thereof, land an oven top `wall slidably mounted upon supporting means carried bysaid sections `adjacent the upper edges thereof.

chamber within said compartment and the other of said sectionsconstituting the other side wall and the balance of the back wall ofsaid oven chamber, an oven bottom removably mounted upon said lowersupporting member and extending between said side walls, and an oven topwall slidably mounted upon supporting means carried by said sectionsadjacent the upperedges thereof.

. l1. A cooking range as defined in claim 5 in which said interengagingmeans comprises prongs on said top wall entering recesses in said backwall to lock said sections in position against removal.

12. A cooking range as defined in claim 1 in which said llexible portioncomprises a series of rigid strips hinged together to flex to passaround the back corner of said chamber.

13. A cooking range as set forth in claim l2 in which the hinge meansconstitute a substantially closed seal between hinged strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS538,430 McKenzie Apr. 30, 1895 1,872,020 Taylor Aug. 16, 1932 1,969,197Barker Aug. 7, 1934 1,979,210 Rogers Oct.`30, 1934 2,252,139 SchlacterAug. 12, 1941 2,520,133 l Donovan Aug. 2,9, 1950 2,555,841 Clark June 5,1951 2,584,874 Haas Feb. 5, 1952

